But first, the runners up. Last month, we announced The Third Annual Best American Poetry Poem Challenge, for which poets were invited to write
an inaugural ode, suitable for reading aloud on January 20, 2009. It
had to consist of sixteen lines broken into four quatrains, rhyme
scheme optional. Furthermore, the ode had to include one line lifted
from a poem in The Best American Poetry 2008 or from the book's foreword or introduction, and also include at least three of the following words: honor, integrity, faith, hope, change, power. Poet Mark Strand selected the winner and runners up.
Tied for third place with Valentina Gnup is this fine poem, Morning Gown, by Michael Schiavo, of North Bennington, Vermont. Congratulations, Michael, and thank you for your poem.
MORNING GOWN
let’s open this door together
cherry blossoms stir
you are mine & I am yours
the water is on fire
cherry blossoms blur
my power comes from you
every mind on fire
now we do our do
all I am is you
faith in our strange ways
as we do our do
to change tomorrow today
have faith in our strange ways
three hundred million doors
change tomorrow today
this thing we do is ours
– by Michael Schiavo
“The water is on fire.” is from James Galvin’s poem “Girl without Her Nightgown.” The Best American Poetry 2008